They may have been beaten in the World Cup final, but two of England's rugby union heroes won gongs in the honours.

Ex-captain Jason Robinson, 33 - known to fans as Billy Whizz because of his astonishing speed - picked up an OBE.

Head coach Brian Ashton, who steered the team to the final against South Africa, got an MBE.

Ashton, 61, said: "I am honoured and privileged. This award is not just for me, but for all who have helped me throughout my career."

Ex-runner and founder of the Great North Run Brendan Foster was delighted with his CBE.

Foster, 59, said: "I would very much like to share this award with the 900,000 runners of all abilities who over the years have made the Great North Run such a huge success."

World snooker champ John Higgins, who landed his second Crucible title in May, is recognised with an MBE.

He said: "As a snooker player you don't expect awards like these. I'm delighted. It's fantastic, a great thing to have."

For Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, who captained England's women's cricket team from 1966 to 1978 and was unbeaten in six Test series, there is an OBE. Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, also gets an OBE.

He said: "This is a nice honour for me personally and it is also lovely recognition for the PFA in our centenary year."

Another OBE went to ex-Arsenal star and broadcaster Bob Wilson for services to the Willow Foundation charity set up after the death of his daughter Anna from cancer.

Other awards included a CBE for Peter Jones, ex-chairman of the Tote, and an MBE for Ivor Powell, former Wales international and at 91 the world's oldest active football coach, still working for Team Bath FC.

An MBE also goes to ex-England goalie Alan Hodgkinson, who became the country's first goalkeeping coach.

Former England batsman Clive Radley, now head coach of the MCC, and Derek Ibbotson, who set a world record for the mile in 1957, both get MBEs. Ibbotson, 75, became the answer to a trivia question by running the first exact four-minute mile in 1958.